Aunt Verla passed away in 2003 at 93 just before Verna. They remained close over the years calling each other frequently. The lone son, Garfield lived on the West Coast and disappeared to the family following the death of Morley with whom he was very close.

Morley, Flossy, Verna and perhaps Verla in one of the rare photographs of the only son in the family. Morley moved to the West coast and worked as an usher in a movie theatre, a glamorous job at the time. Tragedy struck the family when Morley accidentally drove off a mountain side in 1940.. He was brought back to Neepawa for burial and the family used their entire savings to afford him a headstone.

Robert Lewis Mc Comb was of Irish descent. He remained a stanch Orangeman throughout his life, playing the drum in their annual parades. He was born in 1875 and came to settle in the Neepawa area. Lou worked for the Canadian Pacific Railroad as a trackman. He married my Grandmother in 1914 after telling her at a dance that he would. Flossy was eighteen, Lou thirty-nine, when they married. The marriage lasted for forty-five years, through family tragedy and eight children. His brother lived out his retirement with the family. Uncle, as he was known would sit with Lou and talk on about the day's events, the past and just plain nonsense. Lou passed away on September 15, 1959. The whole family had been home to see him just prior, having anticipated it.

Flossy married for a second time and for love in 1972 to a Hector Mc Fadyen. They drove to Alaska for their honeymoon. Regretfully, Hector passed away a few years later. Grand Mother then travelled to visit her daughters and to Hawaii.

Flossy Mc Comb-Mc Fadyen was the daughter of early settlers in theFranklin area. Hers was not an easy life. She recalled being farmed out when she was twelve to a neighbor family. They got her labor and in exchange she got room and board and a new pair of leather boots. At ninety-one years of age, she could remember getting on the buckboard with her new boots. At eighteen, she married Lou and began having her many children. They lost their first home and all their possessions in a fire. The move to First Avenue was made with donations from the community to get them started. That home became the center of the family universe for many years as family came back to visit often. It was my home for two or so years as a child. Flossy had survived the fire, the depression and early primitive conditions. As each step of modern life came along: electricity, plumbing, telephone, automobile and airplane she accepted it but not without remaining true to certain old ways like canning chicken and garden produce, drinking warm water rather than tea, and turning used fabric into award winning quilts. She was a Rebecca Lodge member and active in her community. When Neepawa had its centennial, it was Flossy who rode the parade as the oldest member of the community. Her life remains a wonder to me, not only for its length and hardship but foremost for her kindness which glowed through all she did. There were eight McComb children who survived to adulthood.

My Mother believed she was four years old in this picture. What is remarkable, is that she is wearing the same large white bow, her mother wore in the photo in the next panel.

This photograph emerged at Christmas 1999. It was in horrid condition and was digitally redone. It is of the family group with Alma Wiggins surrounded by her children: Gert, Garfield, Pearl, Elva, Flossie along the top with Edna, Verla and Gladys along the bottom.

Miss Flossie Jane Wiggins

This picture was taken of my Grandmother when she was sixteen or perhaps nineteen when she married my Grandfather. It has suffered in the past being ripped and then taped together with scotch tape, which in turn has discolored with age. It is being kept as presented to maintain its integrity.

Mr. Joe Wiggins and Mr. John Whelpton.

This picture was labeled Mr. Joe Wiggins and Mr. John Whelp ton. They are our Grand Mother's Father and Grand Father, respectively. I believe it is Mr. Whelpton sitting as the senior person in the picture.

It is interesting that the men sat for their portraits separate from the women. There are no photographs known to me of men and women together.

Homesteads

The Wiggins family homestead was located near Neepawa, in the town of Franklin. The importance of this picture is in the simplicity of the buildings and the rough nature of their surroundings. It is matched by that of the Goodwin side of the family. These homes would have existed from the 1870s when Manitoba became a province.

This studio photograph was given to me in 2000 by Mom. It shows her with Gram's white ribbon, Morley and Margaret when the family was just starting out. This helped explain the bond between Mom and Margaret and the special place they held for Morley throughout their lives.

Morley, Verna and Flossie sitting on a buckboard.

Verna in her highchair sitting in a field in spring or fall as there are no leaves. The color of her cheeks would suggest spring. It is remarkable how similar to a porcelain doll of the era she appears.

Aunt Verla is sitting with Morley to the left, Verna to the right and Margaret, Gladys and Gert are standing or sitting around. This motley crew reminds me of an Our Gang group. This would have been taken at the house that burned to the ground.

This painting by one of Grandmother's great grand children is the best image of the McComb home on 1st Avenue. It captures the fine trees, the green board and wire fence and the side porch.

This home replaced the one lost to fire in 1945. This loss weighed on my Mother well into my childhood as she would mention it often on trips to Neepawa. The home was razed following its sale and a modern home was built on the lot.

Now, homestead is essentially the family graves scattered around the stone angel in the Neepawa Cemetery. Internments and visits bring family back to explore the trail of headstones. It is a place of such beauty and peace many intend to return here for their final rest as well.